RP LOG with nychandcuffs | Days off
Matt's blond hair was sticking up in all directions, and his pale skin was covered in a light sheen of post-coital sweat. He was even still breathless from exertion, but none of it stopped him shooting Vee a smirk and throwing the covers off him to push up and get out of bed. It was one of his rare days off, and he had a long sleep-in, then lunch, before ending up in bed together when Vee came home after only working half a day. Of course there was sex, but now he felt restless like he always did on a day off. "Coffee," he explained to her and just exited the bedroom in all his naked glory. He was hardly the shy sort once he was comfortable with someone, and it was his apartment. It was winter, and he always had excellent heating. There was more snow predicted, so he was going to make the most of the warm interior until he had to go out in it to work again in the morning.
Even if it was tempting try and pull another sickie...
But it was still fresh his last failed attempt at that, and how as Karma, he ended up in hospital with appendicitis. He wasn't about to tempt fate again. He probably would never call in sick again after that ordeal. He scratched his stomach and yawned a little as he made his way up the hall. He needed an energy boost, and maybe a pizza. A pizza would be fantastic.
Vee had just given Matt a happy smirk as she watched his very lovely ass retreating, and then stayed in the bed for a few moments as she stretched and hummed in pleasure. The covers were tangled around her legs, leaving her chest bare as she arched her back with another stretch and turned her head as she pushed her hair out of her face and looked out the window at all the snow. There was something amazing and magical about being inside all warm and cozy while outside it was snowing. She had just never shared that thought with anyone before. She loved watching the weather outside, and sometimes even loved being in it, but this was more like it.
Naked, warm, and freshly shagged.
After a moment Vee sat up and then pulled on Matt's t-shirt over her ruffled hair and followed him out to the kitchen. She grinned as she saw him once again all naked and sexy and wrapped her arms around his waist as she kissed the back of his shoulder. "Mm, I swear you just get sexier."
Matt filled the kettle with water and flicked it onto boil. He rubbed his hand over her arm and glanced at her over his shoulder with a smirk. "You always say that after a shag," he reminded her in amusement. "You know, I gave up a pub date with Ronnie for this." He reached up to get some mugs down from the cupboard over his head. He knew that she was also trying to find a good time to suggest they spend the day with the lad who was going to be her godson. That amused him too, but the truth was, he really had no problem with kids and the lad was Irish, so even better. Actually finding the time was another story. The cases lately seemed to be piling up, so it was a good thing that last Christmas Matt remembered to put in for leave this year so he could have a couple of weeks off without it being bloody sick leave.
"That's because you always look so much more relaxed after a shag, and you're naked after a shag. It's win-win. Every other time you're in a towel, which isn't bad, but I've changed my mind and decided naked is better. Butt nekkid," she added as she gave his ass an affectionate squeeze and kissed his shoulder again before she moved away to give him room to make his coffee. "Are you really telling me you'd rather be having a pub date with Ronnie, than spend the day naked with me? I don't know how I feel about that, Matt. I think I'm actually wounded. I'd say invite Ronnie over instead, but as much as I love him, I just don't want him naked with us."
"It's lucky that I do have a butt then, or we'd really be up shit creek," Matt joked back easily as he pulled the coffee and sugar cannisters closer and dug a spoon from the top drawer. He tilted his head, feigning deep thought. "You know, it's really not fair to ask a man deep questions like that so soon after an orgasm. It takes time to make the switch from one head to the other, and Ronnie is my boyfriend. Didn't you hear the rumours? Or my long lost Dad. The latter has been more favoured this week considering how I reacted when I walked in and found a gun pointed at his head. I don't think Ronnie knows what naked means. I think his girls were conceived by immaculate conception while he watched footy and ate chips on the sofa."
Vee held her hands up as she laughed softly. "Didn't realise it was a deep question, so I'm already in trouble. This is why chicks get so much crap for the post-coital moment. We're not good at being quiet. We have to talk if there isn't cuddling and sleep." She watched him spoon in his standard four sugars and shuddered just a little at the idea of how sweet his coffee tasted. She'd stolen a sip one time, and had never, ever done it again. "I swear my teeth get cavities just watching you do that, Irish. Well, how else are you supposed to react to finding a gun pointed at Ronnie's head? Just shrug and walk away? That's bullshit."
Matt nodded in agreement. "Aye, and then you all start with the deep and meaningful comments that is absolutely impossible for a post-shag mind to process. It leads to arguments and other bullshit. This is why most casual relationships fail," he said, as he if he was some all-knowing genius on the situation. In saying that, it had been why most of his relationships failed. It was usually after a shag the chicks started bringing up the subject of his working hours, and he ended up getting pissed off after having explained the whole thing to them at the start. "No, you don't have to talk. You just do, when all we're capable of is rolling over and going to sleep, or staring blankly at the ceiling. I nearly shat myself. No, I mean literally. He's telling me to walk away, and I knew I had to, but Jesus Christ." He shook his head and then shrugged when he looked at the sugar he was spooning into his mug.
Vee reached out to brush her fingers over Matt's arm and moved in to hug him again. "Well, I can stop talking anytime you want. I'll just go back to admiring your ass, or groping you while you drink your coffee. You don't have to get involved, just stand there and let me do my thing," she joked with a smirk. "And casual relationships fail because most of the time, even when someone won't admit it, they want more. And there's only so many sexual encounters you can have without there being some kind of getting to know you thing going on. I'm sorry you had to go through that with Ronnie, I really am. But at least he's okay. You got through it."
Matt was yawning widely as he listened and waited for the kettle to boil. Sometimes he thought long lie-ins just made the energy levels worse. He gave a small shrug. "You know Ronnie. He's a sweet-talker. The kid handed over the gun and spilled his guts with info. I think half the kid perps want Ronnie for their dad. It's why I always get stuck with the bad cop routine... or digging through trash bags. I'm going to argue and say more casual relationships fail because the one wanting more comes on too strong when the one who doesn't isn't ready. Sometimes in extreme circumstances, that can work out, but hardly ever. You're not ready, then you're just not ready. Some people like the idea of sex without revealing themselves."
"Well, speaking as someone who decided to take a risk on an international booty call, sometimes it's worth the gamble. Not that I still really understand what happened other than I think we had this connection, and maybe it wasn't really casual from the get go. I don't know, but we're okay, right? No regrets? No feeling like you've been overcome? Because you're an honorary godfather now. And I thought we could have Ciaran at some point to give Euan and Gee a little break, and to get to know the kid." Vee had tried to be as subtle as possible but in the end, she just figured she'd drop it into the conversation. "Ronnie's just everyone's fatherly figure. I'd have him for a dad if I could."
Matt shook his head with a shrug. "Nope. You haven't given me as much grief as most of the women I dated. You haven't tried to tell me I should be cutting back on work and spending more time with you, and you get that Ronnie comes as part of the package. It's all good." He shot her a smirk as the kettle boiled and he got the milk from the fridge. "I was wondering when you were going to try and subtlety drop that one into the conversation."
"You know me, my middle name is 'subtlety'. Actually, it probably should be my middle name, but it's not. I suck at segues, and being subtle. That's just one of the many reasons you love me besides knowing why you don't have more time for me, and why Ronnie is part of the package. Just like you got why Euan's part of mine." Vee pushed her hair out of her face again before she tried to tuck it behind her ears to keep it out of the way. "I know you're busy, and Christmas is never the quietest period. I'm assuming the same applies to London. Just, if you know you have some free time coming up we could volunteer in a not exactly unplanned type way."
Matt made the coffee and then put everything neatly back where it belonged. "You're going to have to fill me in a little more on the kid so I know what I'm getting myself in for," he pointed out. He had heard about the boy in passing, but it was more the hardships than anything else, and he had seen him at the Scotland weddings. It was strange for Matt, the boy reminded him so much of himself during his early teen years in the wake of all those things he really didn't want to think about. He could probably identify with him on some level. "I have next Thursday off, but then that's me right up until I knock off the day before Christmas. After that, I have two weeks leave. That's all I can really offer at the moment. Some of the cases we have need all hands on deck. Evans even came back from his leave early to cover."
Vee pulled her mouth to the side as she watched him. "Are you sure you want to give up your Thursday babysitting, then? It's okay if you don't. It can wait a bit longer. He's... He's Ciaran. He just gets this Look that makes you feel like he's looking right at your soul, and knows everything you're thinking. He's all about art, and he just adores Euan. He's yet to discover his sporty side, and he may or may not be wanking already. He's a good kid, Matt. He's not going to be any trouble."
"Are you about to tell me the kid is devil spawn or something? You talk like giving up a day to take him is like torture or something," Matt said with a laugh and pushed the other mug in her direction before taking a sip from his own. "Wanking? Does it matter if he is or he isn't? I mean, he's a lad. It'll happen sooner or later. Nothing wrong with it unless he's getting it out in public and flashing random people. The big question is, are you sure he's going to want to come and spend the day with us? We're strangers."
"Of course there's nothing wrong with wanking, but I think Euan and Gee are struggling with the idea of needing to give him any sort of sex talk. It's kind of amusing actually," Vee replied as she took a sip of her coffee. She wriggled her toes against the kitchen floor and moved to lean against Matt. "He's not devil spawn, and it's not going to be horrible taking care of him. And we can't be complete strangers. He knows me a little. He just has to know us some more."
Matt smirked and nodded. "My Dad sucked at that. My Mum mostly stepped in and filled out the gaps. Of course, a lot of it was steeped in strict Catholic views, but things weren't as free and open as they are these days. The lad is going to encounter sex from a young age. Better he hears it from Euan and how to prepare for it than anyone else. Then Euan will know he did the best he could rather than nothing at all. Plus, sex ed in school is a joke. It tells you what a penis and a vagina is and what it's all supposed to do. You might get lucky and be shown how to put a condom on, but it doesn't teach you all the effects of emotions and hormones and respect for girls. That's got to come from parents, and you don't need me to tell you how fucked up some of the youth can get. By the time they reach our interrogation rooms, there's no hope for them. They've already been screwed over with proper lessons in life. So, you're all cool with the godparent thing? It's a pretty big responsibility."
Vee bit her lip as she looked over Matt's body and then started to laugh. "So that's why you're so open and free with it now, huh? All that Catholic upbringing. I'm not from a Catholic family. I think my parents actually did pretty well with the whole thing. I never had any hang ups. Maybe that was a downfall, too. Once I got past the whole awkward first few times... Sex was fun. I don't want him to be like that, at least not to the point he's a little Euan. Euan even said that. Euan and Gee will have it covered, they're just gonna get nervous about it. Yeah, I'm cool. And I know, but I also know that this is Euan's son. I'd do anything for the kid."
"Well, this is me waiting until I'm married to have sex," Matt said with a smirk and then shook his head. "I guess it stopped me being really promiscuous, but with the upbringing I had, I wanted to break out of the ties as soon as I could. My faith lost it's shine when I was quite young and I was just looking forward to moving out of home. Seriously, the kid does not need to be scarred with an overemphasis on religion. Not in this day an age. It can be there if he needs faith, but knowing how to survive life is way more important than anything the bible can teach. Aye, but Fitzpatrick faced a lot of shit the boy won't. He'll start showing signs of what he's going to be like during puberty. Just take it as it comes. But as his godmother, you might get in the line of fire about sex questions," he pointed out.
"And as honorary godfather, you get to help me field those questions," Vee decided with a grin before she took another sip of coffee. "I think I'll be okay with it. Maybe. I mean, I'm worried that I will say the wrong thing and fuck up the kid for life, but then I stop and realise he's already been pretty fucking damaged by the mother and grandparents. At least we know Gee's a better mother than the biological one ever could be. And Euan's a thousand times the father that the grandparents assumed he would be. All I want to do is make sure I give Ciaran everything he does need to survive."
Matt waved his hand. "Ohh, no no no. I'm not interferring with the way Fitzpatrick raises his son. You're forgetting he and I didn't exactly get off on the best foot. Any sex questions get turned right back to his father who can make the right call," he insisted. "I wouldn't worry too much or you'll be too uptight. He's gotten through a lot that could have fucked him up for life, and he's doing okay. It sounds like he's a tough wee cookie. It must be weird for you seeing Fitzpatrick as a father after all the... past between you two."
Vee's eyebrows went up as she looked at Matt. "That's like asking me if it's weird seeing him get married to Gee. It's weird, period. Not just because of our past. No one knew he was a father, and then out of the blue this kid rocks up all blond hair, blue eyes, and Irish accent and saying Euan's his dad. It was a shock to say the least, but I'm getting used to it. I don't think I can imagine Euan with an infant, but he's a pretty good dad for a teenager."
"Aye, but I met Euan's sister, Aoife, and she looks fair to me, so the genes aren't really a push. I cannot for the life of me put myself in his shoes with that. I don't think I would have handled it half as well as he did. Think of all the health issues that woman could have passed on to the poor kid. Hell, she could even have passed on the heroine addiction. This is the other side of the fence of what we investigate, and it's sobering," Matt said with a small shake of his head as he sipped his coffee again. "I saw him with the lad at Evans' wedding. He'll be fine. He's got it down. Even when the lad threw a tantrum too, I hear, even I didn't witness that specifically."
"I'm glad I didn't witness it, but I just don't want to be a reason for him to have a tantrum, you know? Maybe he'll decide he doesn't like us. But we need to try. I'm sure it'll be okay. And we've both dealt with kids and the police. We know how to handle them, right? They can be quite fragile. I think Ciaran's made of stronger stuff. He's still Euan's son, and they're giving him the family he deserves. We just need to help them. Maybe we should get a few kid things? Make sure the spare room's in order, or something."
"Kids throw tantrums for a whole lot of reasons. They get pissed off just like we do. You're going to be his godmother, so aye, maybe now and again you might piss him off. Adults always piss us off when we're kids. Plus, he's hitting puberty. He might be a right shit when he gets there. Hormones can be a real bastard sometimes. Hopefully he doesn't, though. I mean, he's got a lot to look forward to now and he's happy. That will probably counteract any hormone explosions. But there might be tantrums or sulking. It's natural with any kid." Matt nodded. "Kids are fine. I've never had a problem with them, really. My best mate has--" He cut off abruptly, a deep frown appearing on his face. "... my friends have kids, so it's fine. Lads. Lads aren't so tough, it's the girls that are. He'll probably bring his own stuff, but you can get some to have on hand if you want."
Vee frowned and tilted her head as she watched Matt. He'd rarely mentioned a best friend. She was wondering if he actually had one apart from Ronnie. "Your best mate has kids? Was that what you were going to say? Matt, what's wrong?"
Matt waved his hand a little. "It's nothing. He's been a bit distracted lately, that's all. We've hardly seen each other. His lad is a sweetheart. Loves footy." He couldn't go into his past there even if he wanted to. Not now. It really wasn't the time. Not considering the fact Vee's godson-to-be was about to be christened Catholic. Matt would just have to suck it up. The only time he went into a church these days was to light a candle for kid victims they had. "Nothing's wrong. It's all good, I promise."
Vee set down her coffee mug to take Matt's free hand and gave it a squeeze. "You can talk to me whenever you're ready. I won't call bullshit right now, but something's telling me that you're not quite being honest with me, and that's okay. I'll wait. You still try and keep in touch though, don't you? How old's the son? I don't even know anything about your best friend."
"I'm not bullshitting. I'm just being evasive. Pete's a copper too, Police Sergeant, so time has a tendency to get away. We've known each other so long, that it doesn't seem to matter that much. We're there for the important things. We went through the Academy together, he's my oldest mate. There was just a lot we went through together as kids. The lad's nine. Danny's his name. Pete's pride and joy," Matt explained with a smile, nursing his mug to his chest.
Vee gave a nod. "Okay, no bullshitting. Pete. Well, at least I have a name now. Cops never really were meant to have much of a life away from the force, were they? It's just the job, and family if they have one. So you've known each other a long time. That's a tough friendship to beat. A bond that would last through anything. I'm sure you'll find that one magic moment when you're both free. And if it's Thursday, then I can take Ciaran on my own. Do you want a boy?"
Matt nodded and licked his lips after another sip of coffee. "We meet the first Friday of every month for a couple of beers after work. Like a staple thing. He's cancelled on me the last couple of times, though. Been busy. We've both been busy. That's the the lay of the land as a copper. It's fine. We'll catch up when we can, no big deal." He glanced at her in surprise. "Do I want a boy what? Kid? Do I want a son? Do I look like Henry the Eighth?" he said with a smirk.
Vee flipped him off playfully before she smirked back. "No, you're much hotter. Although I am growing a serious wet spot for that Tudors show. Just not final series Henry. Final series Charles, yes. Just some guys love the idea of a son. That's all I meant. I didn't mean it in a whole 'you need an heir' way. Just, do you want kids?"
Matt quirked an eyebrow at her in amusement. "You're perving on the sidekick? You would make a good English commoner," he joked and gave her hair a playful flick. "If I ever have kids, I wouldn't mind either. I'd probably know how to handle a son better than a daughter, but then, all guys probably think that before it actually happens. I would just rather it go down in the conventional way than what Fitzpatrick went through. I think knowing how much time I missed there would eat me alive. In saying all that, I'm not sure society today is anywhere I'd want to raise a kid."
"Hopefully one day, I really will be an English commoner. Not just an American crashing the place." She nudged him back before she slipped her arms around his waist, and brushed her hand down over his ass as she stole a kiss. "Is there any possible chance that there's some Mini Matt running around somewhere? Just so I'm prepared. I'm pretty sure we had this conversation, but I just want to check. So... no kids?"
Matt gave a slight, huffed laugh and shook his head. "No, not at all. This Catholic never had a problem with supplying his own birth control. I've been aware of everyone I slept with, though sometimes I really wish I hadn't been," he said in amusement. "Then there were a whole lot of periods of droughts when I just didn't have time to go on the pull, and there was one time my mates bought me a prostitute for my birthday, but I didn't touch her. Strangely enough, though, I find myself identifying with Euan's lad. I was brainwashed with a lot of the 'You do this and you'll go to hell' thing too when I was a kid. It can stay with you for a very long time."
Vee rest her head against Matt's chest as she relaxed against him, but not to the point she was going to tip them both off balance. "Then what changed your mind? How did you know you wouldn't go to hell. Wait, wait. Your mates bought you a prostitute? Seriously? Was she at least high class? They could have at least just set you up with a nice lady. She didn't have to be a hooker."
Matt fell silent and his eyes glazed just a little as they fell on the kitchen counter top. "Um... bad experiences in church," he eventually replied, clearing his throat. "Lost faith, all that. I realised it was just a threat to cover things, and yeah, I had my eyes opened, so to speak. I can hardly remember much about her. I was pissed, and I only knew she was a prostitute because she wanted paying before we got into it. Blokes' minds don't think like women. A shag is so much easier than finding a 'nice lady'. That would have taken too much work on their part."
Vee was still getting a niggling feeling in her gut that there was more to it than Matt was saying. She just did not want to push him. If she nudged too hard, then he might close down on her completely. She rubbed her hand against his back softly, staying close to him. "Well, you still could have just shagged a 'nice lady'. Didn't have to be someone that needed paying. But I get it. Boys will be boys. Do you miss your faith at all?"
Matt gave a succinct shake of his head. "Not at all. No faith is ever what we were taught that it is, and unfortunately, Catholicism has avenues of being tainted. It's there in the background and it's what I was brought up as, but no. I don't miss it. I haven't been to confession in a good twenty odd years. But it's still part of what I am, and I have belief in some of it. Just... not all those who preach it and represent it."
Vee nodded in understanding as she pulled away to pick up her coffee again. She took a large sip before pulling herself up onto the kitchen counter, and reaching out to pull Matt between her legs with a smirk. "Not adhering to the lack of birth control is definitely a positive. And I think sex before marriage... also a plus. The medallion you wear though, that's the kind of jewellery that's sexy on naked men. And who needs church, anyway? We do plenty of our own worshipping."
"That was a gift from my godfather. He passed away when I was a kid, but he meant a lot to me. Like I said, it's a big responsibility. If you can find the right formula, you will be in the kid's heart forever, no matter what," Matt told her with a smile. "You apparently need a church to make the lad officially part of your life. It's pretty cool, though not sure how he'll feel being dunked in the water. Have they revealed that bit to him yet?"
Vee wrapped her arms around Matt's shoulders as she leaned forward to kiss him softly, smiling against his lips. "I'm sorry you lost your godfather, but it's nice to know that they can mean something. That they're not just random people you'll never know. Now I'm just scared! Why are you trying to freak me out?! I'll forever be thinking about what the fucking formula is. Oh right, yeah. Which means dressing up and looking suitably godmotherly. No, I don't think so. I'm not sure they've had much of a chance to go over it since the custody was sorted out."
"Some are. It's what you make it to be. I'm sure it's not easy, and you have to make a huge effort with the kid, but that's the whole point. In essence, you're supposed to advise them and be the ones there for them if their parents can't be. Sometimes it's just a name thing, but you can really make it what you want to be. I mean, you're not Euan's sister, so you can't be his real aunt, but this is just the same. It's like picking an aunt," Matt reasoned. "The formula is probably unique to each kid. What Ciaran might need, some other kid probably wouldn't. You just need to take what Euan and Gee want to instill in him and roll with that. I'm not trying to freak you out, I'm trying to help you understand it. That would be an amusing conversation for you to witness. Probably second only to witnessing Euan try to give the sex talk."
"Or Gee give the wank talk," Vee commented with a wicked grin. "I so wish I'd been there for that. I still get a giggle from it whenever I think about it, and how Euan relayed it to me. Does this mean we need to get him, like, hand lotion if he stays here? Are we kiddy friendly? Should we maybe find him some art supplies? That could be the in, I guess. He does love painting, and drawing."
Matt smirked, amused. "Come on. No laddie needs an audience for the wank talk, and no. He probably doesn't need lotion, and it's unlikely he'll do it here if he's only just started. Too much out of his comfort zone. He'll be fine. It's normal. He's proof he's a normal lad under all the crap he's been put through. He's functioning fine. I'd personally rather know he was doing it than start to wonder if he was repressed or not functioning at all. Does he have his own supplies. I don't know. I'm not much of an authority. The lads I know seem happy with some DVDs, video games and kicking a footy about."
"Euan was saying something about not sure if his son was sporty or not, so maybe we could just test it out? Like, you could kick a footy with him. Maybe show me as well since I still don't really get the soccer thing. Football!" Vee corrected loudly. "Football! Football. I didn't mean to call it soccer, I swear. But DVDs we can do. Do you even own a game console? Just out of interest. Is it ancient and collecting dust somewhere?"
Matt shook his head and finished off his coffee. "Nope. I never owned one. I never had time for it. I was more into reading crime novels than playing computer games. We're into winter. It's not exactly footy kicking season. Most of what you entertain him with will have to be inside or Euan will flog you for getting his kid sick. In saying that, kids pick up germs all the time. They get hurt and bruised and cut. You can't freak out every time. Or if you do, just do it internally. Kid's get banged up, plain and simple. Especially lads."
Vee nodded. "Okay, well, I can do this. We can do this. We'll find something for him to do. Do you think he's too young for crime novels? Plus isn't it a bit weird for him to just come over and read books? A bit... antisocial? He can't get germs. Euan will kill me, plus I'm not sure how Ciaran's system will deal with germs. What if he needs to go into hospital? God, my head hurts already. But it's not like he's going to stay here for a long time. Just one day. One evening... Whatever."
"Look, if the lad gets sick on our watch, we'll deal with it. You'll know if he's not well, or he'll tell you. It's all fine, we have a Boots just down the block with remedies at our fingertips. Or get a few of your standard things in to keep on hand if it makes you feel better. I'm not say he has to read books, just that it's what I did. Maybe he'll like comics more. Or get some board games. Board games are always fun. Or bake with him. Or make Christmas decorations with him. There's a load of things you can do," Matt insisted with a smile and an encouraging nod.
"I just don't want him to explode," Vee clarified with a serious look before she cracked a smile and then pulled Matt in so she could wrap her arms and legs around him. "So you sure you're okay with this? Next Thursday? And for the record, you make an awesome godfather-in-law. You have it all going on. I got lucky with you."
Matt laughed. "He's not going to explode on you. It was just one of those things with Euan and me. I haven't been sick since, have I? Has Euan? It's all good. Touch wood," he added, tapping his fingers on the countertop. "Next Thursday's fine, and it's not rocket science. Kid's are just mini adults. We were all there once. We know how to have fun, a lot of us have just forgotten how."
Vee smirked as her eyes lit up and she walked her fingers down Matt's stomach before brushing them over his cock. "I remember how to have a certain kinda fun. Really not the sort that Ciaran should be encouraged in though, I know Euan would kill me for that. And I am touching wood, Irish. So here's to no more exploding. And no, you haven't been sick since. Thank god, but the truth is I think I'm pretty awesome at playing nurse. I like being able to look after you when I can."
"Well, you better make the most of today if you're filling in my day off next week playing Supernanny," Matt pointed out to her, smirking. He knew how much it meant to her to get things right with Euan's son. It was going to be interesting to watch it all play out. "And if he gets sick anytime on our watch, I'll teach you how to be a really awesome nurse with a kid. No different, they just need more hugs and don't have any Man Flu tendencies honed yet. Ciaran will encourage himself there when he's ready. Laddies don't need any encouragement on the sex front. The cock rules everything once the penny drops. You know, if I get ill now, I'm so blaming you for jinxing me."
"Then don't get ill, because the last time I jinxed you, you bloody exploded on me, and it scared the shit out of me," Vee answered as she narrowed her eyes in warning and shot Matt a Look. Her face relaxed a moment later before she pulled Matt into a kiss, intending to grab the green light and run with it given that next week they really would be babysitting. "I like you in one piece, not exploded, and giving me sound advice so that I don't fuck everything up. For that, I will always love you."
Matt sniggered. "Well, I only have one appendix, so I'm pretty sure it's all good now. So, that's me and Euan exploding around you. Only important man left in your life now to tackle is your godson. If he explodes, do you know how much fun we would have pulling the piss?" he teased, unable to help himself. "And didn't they write a song about that once? Do you want me to go all Kevin Costner on you?"
Vee scrunched up her face before smacking Matt's ass. "No, there will be no exploding godsons. No making fun, no jinxing it! Don't say shit like that, okay? Please. Also, for the record, you are way sexier than Kevin Costner, so that would be like taking twenty steps down the hotness ladder. And I am way better than Whitney Houston."
"Well, he's technically already exploded, so maybe that's filled his quota," Matt pointed out with a shrug and then grabbed her hand in his so she couldn't make with more bondage action. "You want spanking, you can go back to Fitzpatrick. I'm more conventional, remember? I'm probably in the minority here, but that song made my nerve-endings want to rupture. Her voice is irritating."
"It wasn't foreplay, it was a smack. Besides which, I'm long done with Euan. You're stuck with me, Devlin," Vee revealed to him with a grin. "That song just makes me want to bash my head against the wall. I've avoided seeing that movie my whole life, and I'm not going to start now. What we have is way better, and way less boredom inducing."
"I had a date drag me to that movie years ago. I was as bored as hell and the plot was full of so many holes, it wasn't funny. The only good movie Costner did was Robin Hood, and I think he should have just stopped his career at that," Matt said, as if he was some sort of all-knowing genius on the subject. Nevermind the fact the movie was a hit. He could be opinionated when he wanted to be. "Sure you don't want to be Fitzpatrick's other woman? Probably a good thing you like Gee. Things could have gone up the shit if you didn't."
Vee shook her head. "Hope you didn't go on another date with that girl. She should be shot for even thinking of it as a date movie. It's just torture. You know, I haven't seen that Robin Hood in years. I used to like Christian Slater before he got weird. I'm more than sure. I'd rather be your first woman, and only woman. Euan wouldn't have cared if I liked Gee, or not. It only matters that he likes her. I can't help but like her."
Matt snorted in amusement. "There were very few girls I've gone on more than a few dates with anyway," he said, shrugging. "You just tend to know the ones that are doomed from the get go. They did a good job of that movie keeping it British, I think that was the plus. You can't beat some classics. I wonder how long they would have taken getting their crap together if the lad hadn't shown up," he mused.
Vee's eyebrows went up before she smirked. "Just as well I never asked you for many dates then, huh? Who knows where we'd be right now. Instead I just keep you in bed until work has to get involved. I like that plan better. Mm, now I'm just thinking about you dressed up as Robin Hood, but you wouldn't be able to go anywhere without your hair gel. No forests for you," she joked as she reached up to ruffle Matt's hair to keep it looking messy. "We'll never really know. But if the tattoo was anything to go by, it was bound to happen eventually."
"Come on, you make me sound like I'm a vain arse," Matt said with a laugh, shaking his head. "You let my hair go free and it literally does whatever the hell it wants. Not a good look when I'm trying to be all professional DS. Nothing like giving a crim a copper with amusing hair to distract from the case. Aye, maybe it was, but I'm not sure I buy that. Fitzpatrick seemed intent on not settling down, and didn't really seem the sort to. Of course, everything really can just change in the blink of an eye. At least it's all official now. Without that, the grandparents really could have come in at any point and tried to take the kid away."
"Except for the fact that the grandparents really were neglecting the poor kid, and he would have become so much sicker staying with them. Imagine if he never got the meds he needed. Never had permission to just be himself, and to be so scared of punishment. Or to never know what a hug feels like." Vee smiled as she smoothed over Matt's hair to try and make it a little neater, before she kissed the end of his nose. "You're not vain. You're the least vain person I know."
Matt closed his eyes briefly and shook his head. If he stuck too long on the issue of child abuse, his mood would be zapped immediately. "He probably wouldn't have survived. As horrible as that sounds, you don't need me to tell you how cases like that can go. We see the bad side of it all. The kids that never have a chance. It's no wonder he's more of a shy introverted kid now, but that's not a bad thing. It probably means that at the end of the day, he'll draw you all in closer to him than push you all away."
Vee nodded slowly as she looped her arms around his neck again. "Hey, I can think of worse kids to draw me in, but I'm still nervous. I still feel like I might not be able to get along with a mini human. I'll also need to work on cutting down the swearing, even if he is Euan's son."
"I'm pretty sure Euan has a bigger job than you on that front. You just have to remember that he's in your care, he needs you, and he's probably more shit scared about it than you are. You need to spend time with him to get to know him. It's not just going to be an immediate connection because Euan wants you as his godmother. You'll be offering him a different life perspective to the godfather too. It'll be good. Gives you something more here in London that's yours," Matt told her with a smile.
"True, true. I mean, I have the PI gig and I am loving it. I have you, I have Euan here now. At least I know he doesn't hate London completely to be trying to settle down. I think it helps having Aoife here as well. He's got half his family, and he's starting a brand new family." Vee smiled back before she shrugged her shoulder slightly. "I think I'm starting to feel more at home here. I can't really deny it."
"I think he still hates it, he just knows it's where he has to be. He doesn't have any love for it anyway. He told me as much at the wedding. He wasn't confident letting the lad be out in the city, but he knows he has to get over it because it'll be his home. London's just one of those places that you either really love or you tolerate. I've been here so long now I can't imagine being anywhere else. Just when it has weather like this, I wish I was living in Hawaii," Matt joked and flicked the kettle on again. May as well have a second cup while they were at it. There was no hurry with anything and he had really deserved this day off.
Word Count | 7,435
Even if it was tempting try and pull another sickie...
But it was still fresh his last failed attempt at that, and how as Karma, he ended up in hospital with appendicitis. He wasn't about to tempt fate again. He probably would never call in sick again after that ordeal. He scratched his stomach and yawned a little as he made his way up the hall. He needed an energy boost, and maybe a pizza. A pizza would be fantastic.
Vee had just given Matt a happy smirk as she watched his very lovely ass retreating, and then stayed in the bed for a few moments as she stretched and hummed in pleasure. The covers were tangled around her legs, leaving her chest bare as she arched her back with another stretch and turned her head as she pushed her hair out of her face and looked out the window at all the snow. There was something amazing and magical about being inside all warm and cozy while outside it was snowing. She had just never shared that thought with anyone before. She loved watching the weather outside, and sometimes even loved being in it, but this was more like it.
Naked, warm, and freshly shagged.
After a moment Vee sat up and then pulled on Matt's t-shirt over her ruffled hair and followed him out to the kitchen. She grinned as she saw him once again all naked and sexy and wrapped her arms around his waist as she kissed the back of his shoulder. "Mm, I swear you just get sexier."
Matt filled the kettle with water and flicked it onto boil. He rubbed his hand over her arm and glanced at her over his shoulder with a smirk. "You always say that after a shag," he reminded her in amusement. "You know, I gave up a pub date with Ronnie for this." He reached up to get some mugs down from the cupboard over his head. He knew that she was also trying to find a good time to suggest they spend the day with the lad who was going to be her godson. That amused him too, but the truth was, he really had no problem with kids and the lad was Irish, so even better. Actually finding the time was another story. The cases lately seemed to be piling up, so it was a good thing that last Christmas Matt remembered to put in for leave this year so he could have a couple of weeks off without it being bloody sick leave.
"That's because you always look so much more relaxed after a shag, and you're naked after a shag. It's win-win. Every other time you're in a towel, which isn't bad, but I've changed my mind and decided naked is better. Butt nekkid," she added as she gave his ass an affectionate squeeze and kissed his shoulder again before she moved away to give him room to make his coffee. "Are you really telling me you'd rather be having a pub date with Ronnie, than spend the day naked with me? I don't know how I feel about that, Matt. I think I'm actually wounded. I'd say invite Ronnie over instead, but as much as I love him, I just don't want him naked with us."
"It's lucky that I do have a butt then, or we'd really be up shit creek," Matt joked back easily as he pulled the coffee and sugar cannisters closer and dug a spoon from the top drawer. He tilted his head, feigning deep thought. "You know, it's really not fair to ask a man deep questions like that so soon after an orgasm. It takes time to make the switch from one head to the other, and Ronnie is my boyfriend. Didn't you hear the rumours? Or my long lost Dad. The latter has been more favoured this week considering how I reacted when I walked in and found a gun pointed at his head. I don't think Ronnie knows what naked means. I think his girls were conceived by immaculate conception while he watched footy and ate chips on the sofa."
Vee held her hands up as she laughed softly. "Didn't realise it was a deep question, so I'm already in trouble. This is why chicks get so much crap for the post-coital moment. We're not good at being quiet. We have to talk if there isn't cuddling and sleep." She watched him spoon in his standard four sugars and shuddered just a little at the idea of how sweet his coffee tasted. She'd stolen a sip one time, and had never, ever done it again. "I swear my teeth get cavities just watching you do that, Irish. Well, how else are you supposed to react to finding a gun pointed at Ronnie's head? Just shrug and walk away? That's bullshit."
Matt nodded in agreement. "Aye, and then you all start with the deep and meaningful comments that is absolutely impossible for a post-shag mind to process. It leads to arguments and other bullshit. This is why most casual relationships fail," he said, as he if he was some all-knowing genius on the situation. In saying that, it had been why most of his relationships failed. It was usually after a shag the chicks started bringing up the subject of his working hours, and he ended up getting pissed off after having explained the whole thing to them at the start. "No, you don't have to talk. You just do, when all we're capable of is rolling over and going to sleep, or staring blankly at the ceiling. I nearly shat myself. No, I mean literally. He's telling me to walk away, and I knew I had to, but Jesus Christ." He shook his head and then shrugged when he looked at the sugar he was spooning into his mug.
Vee reached out to brush her fingers over Matt's arm and moved in to hug him again. "Well, I can stop talking anytime you want. I'll just go back to admiring your ass, or groping you while you drink your coffee. You don't have to get involved, just stand there and let me do my thing," she joked with a smirk. "And casual relationships fail because most of the time, even when someone won't admit it, they want more. And there's only so many sexual encounters you can have without there being some kind of getting to know you thing going on. I'm sorry you had to go through that with Ronnie, I really am. But at least he's okay. You got through it."
Matt was yawning widely as he listened and waited for the kettle to boil. Sometimes he thought long lie-ins just made the energy levels worse. He gave a small shrug. "You know Ronnie. He's a sweet-talker. The kid handed over the gun and spilled his guts with info. I think half the kid perps want Ronnie for their dad. It's why I always get stuck with the bad cop routine... or digging through trash bags. I'm going to argue and say more casual relationships fail because the one wanting more comes on too strong when the one who doesn't isn't ready. Sometimes in extreme circumstances, that can work out, but hardly ever. You're not ready, then you're just not ready. Some people like the idea of sex without revealing themselves."
"Well, speaking as someone who decided to take a risk on an international booty call, sometimes it's worth the gamble. Not that I still really understand what happened other than I think we had this connection, and maybe it wasn't really casual from the get go. I don't know, but we're okay, right? No regrets? No feeling like you've been overcome? Because you're an honorary godfather now. And I thought we could have Ciaran at some point to give Euan and Gee a little break, and to get to know the kid." Vee had tried to be as subtle as possible but in the end, she just figured she'd drop it into the conversation. "Ronnie's just everyone's fatherly figure. I'd have him for a dad if I could."
Matt shook his head with a shrug. "Nope. You haven't given me as much grief as most of the women I dated. You haven't tried to tell me I should be cutting back on work and spending more time with you, and you get that Ronnie comes as part of the package. It's all good." He shot her a smirk as the kettle boiled and he got the milk from the fridge. "I was wondering when you were going to try and subtlety drop that one into the conversation."
"You know me, my middle name is 'subtlety'. Actually, it probably should be my middle name, but it's not. I suck at segues, and being subtle. That's just one of the many reasons you love me besides knowing why you don't have more time for me, and why Ronnie is part of the package. Just like you got why Euan's part of mine." Vee pushed her hair out of her face again before she tried to tuck it behind her ears to keep it out of the way. "I know you're busy, and Christmas is never the quietest period. I'm assuming the same applies to London. Just, if you know you have some free time coming up we could volunteer in a not exactly unplanned type way."
Matt made the coffee and then put everything neatly back where it belonged. "You're going to have to fill me in a little more on the kid so I know what I'm getting myself in for," he pointed out. He had heard about the boy in passing, but it was more the hardships than anything else, and he had seen him at the Scotland weddings. It was strange for Matt, the boy reminded him so much of himself during his early teen years in the wake of all those things he really didn't want to think about. He could probably identify with him on some level. "I have next Thursday off, but then that's me right up until I knock off the day before Christmas. After that, I have two weeks leave. That's all I can really offer at the moment. Some of the cases we have need all hands on deck. Evans even came back from his leave early to cover."
Vee pulled her mouth to the side as she watched him. "Are you sure you want to give up your Thursday babysitting, then? It's okay if you don't. It can wait a bit longer. He's... He's Ciaran. He just gets this Look that makes you feel like he's looking right at your soul, and knows everything you're thinking. He's all about art, and he just adores Euan. He's yet to discover his sporty side, and he may or may not be wanking already. He's a good kid, Matt. He's not going to be any trouble."
"Are you about to tell me the kid is devil spawn or something? You talk like giving up a day to take him is like torture or something," Matt said with a laugh and pushed the other mug in her direction before taking a sip from his own. "Wanking? Does it matter if he is or he isn't? I mean, he's a lad. It'll happen sooner or later. Nothing wrong with it unless he's getting it out in public and flashing random people. The big question is, are you sure he's going to want to come and spend the day with us? We're strangers."
"Of course there's nothing wrong with wanking, but I think Euan and Gee are struggling with the idea of needing to give him any sort of sex talk. It's kind of amusing actually," Vee replied as she took a sip of her coffee. She wriggled her toes against the kitchen floor and moved to lean against Matt. "He's not devil spawn, and it's not going to be horrible taking care of him. And we can't be complete strangers. He knows me a little. He just has to know us some more."
Matt smirked and nodded. "My Dad sucked at that. My Mum mostly stepped in and filled out the gaps. Of course, a lot of it was steeped in strict Catholic views, but things weren't as free and open as they are these days. The lad is going to encounter sex from a young age. Better he hears it from Euan and how to prepare for it than anyone else. Then Euan will know he did the best he could rather than nothing at all. Plus, sex ed in school is a joke. It tells you what a penis and a vagina is and what it's all supposed to do. You might get lucky and be shown how to put a condom on, but it doesn't teach you all the effects of emotions and hormones and respect for girls. That's got to come from parents, and you don't need me to tell you how fucked up some of the youth can get. By the time they reach our interrogation rooms, there's no hope for them. They've already been screwed over with proper lessons in life. So, you're all cool with the godparent thing? It's a pretty big responsibility."
Vee bit her lip as she looked over Matt's body and then started to laugh. "So that's why you're so open and free with it now, huh? All that Catholic upbringing. I'm not from a Catholic family. I think my parents actually did pretty well with the whole thing. I never had any hang ups. Maybe that was a downfall, too. Once I got past the whole awkward first few times... Sex was fun. I don't want him to be like that, at least not to the point he's a little Euan. Euan even said that. Euan and Gee will have it covered, they're just gonna get nervous about it. Yeah, I'm cool. And I know, but I also know that this is Euan's son. I'd do anything for the kid."
"Well, this is me waiting until I'm married to have sex," Matt said with a smirk and then shook his head. "I guess it stopped me being really promiscuous, but with the upbringing I had, I wanted to break out of the ties as soon as I could. My faith lost it's shine when I was quite young and I was just looking forward to moving out of home. Seriously, the kid does not need to be scarred with an overemphasis on religion. Not in this day an age. It can be there if he needs faith, but knowing how to survive life is way more important than anything the bible can teach. Aye, but Fitzpatrick faced a lot of shit the boy won't. He'll start showing signs of what he's going to be like during puberty. Just take it as it comes. But as his godmother, you might get in the line of fire about sex questions," he pointed out.
"And as honorary godfather, you get to help me field those questions," Vee decided with a grin before she took another sip of coffee. "I think I'll be okay with it. Maybe. I mean, I'm worried that I will say the wrong thing and fuck up the kid for life, but then I stop and realise he's already been pretty fucking damaged by the mother and grandparents. At least we know Gee's a better mother than the biological one ever could be. And Euan's a thousand times the father that the grandparents assumed he would be. All I want to do is make sure I give Ciaran everything he does need to survive."
Matt waved his hand. "Ohh, no no no. I'm not interferring with the way Fitzpatrick raises his son. You're forgetting he and I didn't exactly get off on the best foot. Any sex questions get turned right back to his father who can make the right call," he insisted. "I wouldn't worry too much or you'll be too uptight. He's gotten through a lot that could have fucked him up for life, and he's doing okay. It sounds like he's a tough wee cookie. It must be weird for you seeing Fitzpatrick as a father after all the... past between you two."
Vee's eyebrows went up as she looked at Matt. "That's like asking me if it's weird seeing him get married to Gee. It's weird, period. Not just because of our past. No one knew he was a father, and then out of the blue this kid rocks up all blond hair, blue eyes, and Irish accent and saying Euan's his dad. It was a shock to say the least, but I'm getting used to it. I don't think I can imagine Euan with an infant, but he's a pretty good dad for a teenager."
"Aye, but I met Euan's sister, Aoife, and she looks fair to me, so the genes aren't really a push. I cannot for the life of me put myself in his shoes with that. I don't think I would have handled it half as well as he did. Think of all the health issues that woman could have passed on to the poor kid. Hell, she could even have passed on the heroine addiction. This is the other side of the fence of what we investigate, and it's sobering," Matt said with a small shake of his head as he sipped his coffee again. "I saw him with the lad at Evans' wedding. He'll be fine. He's got it down. Even when the lad threw a tantrum too, I hear, even I didn't witness that specifically."
"I'm glad I didn't witness it, but I just don't want to be a reason for him to have a tantrum, you know? Maybe he'll decide he doesn't like us. But we need to try. I'm sure it'll be okay. And we've both dealt with kids and the police. We know how to handle them, right? They can be quite fragile. I think Ciaran's made of stronger stuff. He's still Euan's son, and they're giving him the family he deserves. We just need to help them. Maybe we should get a few kid things? Make sure the spare room's in order, or something."
"Kids throw tantrums for a whole lot of reasons. They get pissed off just like we do. You're going to be his godmother, so aye, maybe now and again you might piss him off. Adults always piss us off when we're kids. Plus, he's hitting puberty. He might be a right shit when he gets there. Hormones can be a real bastard sometimes. Hopefully he doesn't, though. I mean, he's got a lot to look forward to now and he's happy. That will probably counteract any hormone explosions. But there might be tantrums or sulking. It's natural with any kid." Matt nodded. "Kids are fine. I've never had a problem with them, really. My best mate has--" He cut off abruptly, a deep frown appearing on his face. "... my friends have kids, so it's fine. Lads. Lads aren't so tough, it's the girls that are. He'll probably bring his own stuff, but you can get some to have on hand if you want."
Vee frowned and tilted her head as she watched Matt. He'd rarely mentioned a best friend. She was wondering if he actually had one apart from Ronnie. "Your best mate has kids? Was that what you were going to say? Matt, what's wrong?"
Matt waved his hand a little. "It's nothing. He's been a bit distracted lately, that's all. We've hardly seen each other. His lad is a sweetheart. Loves footy." He couldn't go into his past there even if he wanted to. Not now. It really wasn't the time. Not considering the fact Vee's godson-to-be was about to be christened Catholic. Matt would just have to suck it up. The only time he went into a church these days was to light a candle for kid victims they had. "Nothing's wrong. It's all good, I promise."
Vee set down her coffee mug to take Matt's free hand and gave it a squeeze. "You can talk to me whenever you're ready. I won't call bullshit right now, but something's telling me that you're not quite being honest with me, and that's okay. I'll wait. You still try and keep in touch though, don't you? How old's the son? I don't even know anything about your best friend."
"I'm not bullshitting. I'm just being evasive. Pete's a copper too, Police Sergeant, so time has a tendency to get away. We've known each other so long, that it doesn't seem to matter that much. We're there for the important things. We went through the Academy together, he's my oldest mate. There was just a lot we went through together as kids. The lad's nine. Danny's his name. Pete's pride and joy," Matt explained with a smile, nursing his mug to his chest.
Vee gave a nod. "Okay, no bullshitting. Pete. Well, at least I have a name now. Cops never really were meant to have much of a life away from the force, were they? It's just the job, and family if they have one. So you've known each other a long time. That's a tough friendship to beat. A bond that would last through anything. I'm sure you'll find that one magic moment when you're both free. And if it's Thursday, then I can take Ciaran on my own. Do you want a boy?"
Matt nodded and licked his lips after another sip of coffee. "We meet the first Friday of every month for a couple of beers after work. Like a staple thing. He's cancelled on me the last couple of times, though. Been busy. We've both been busy. That's the the lay of the land as a copper. It's fine. We'll catch up when we can, no big deal." He glanced at her in surprise. "Do I want a boy what? Kid? Do I want a son? Do I look like Henry the Eighth?" he said with a smirk.
Vee flipped him off playfully before she smirked back. "No, you're much hotter. Although I am growing a serious wet spot for that Tudors show. Just not final series Henry. Final series Charles, yes. Just some guys love the idea of a son. That's all I meant. I didn't mean it in a whole 'you need an heir' way. Just, do you want kids?"
Matt quirked an eyebrow at her in amusement. "You're perving on the sidekick? You would make a good English commoner," he joked and gave her hair a playful flick. "If I ever have kids, I wouldn't mind either. I'd probably know how to handle a son better than a daughter, but then, all guys probably think that before it actually happens. I would just rather it go down in the conventional way than what Fitzpatrick went through. I think knowing how much time I missed there would eat me alive. In saying all that, I'm not sure society today is anywhere I'd want to raise a kid."
"Hopefully one day, I really will be an English commoner. Not just an American crashing the place." She nudged him back before she slipped her arms around his waist, and brushed her hand down over his ass as she stole a kiss. "Is there any possible chance that there's some Mini Matt running around somewhere? Just so I'm prepared. I'm pretty sure we had this conversation, but I just want to check. So... no kids?"
Matt gave a slight, huffed laugh and shook his head. "No, not at all. This Catholic never had a problem with supplying his own birth control. I've been aware of everyone I slept with, though sometimes I really wish I hadn't been," he said in amusement. "Then there were a whole lot of periods of droughts when I just didn't have time to go on the pull, and there was one time my mates bought me a prostitute for my birthday, but I didn't touch her. Strangely enough, though, I find myself identifying with Euan's lad. I was brainwashed with a lot of the 'You do this and you'll go to hell' thing too when I was a kid. It can stay with you for a very long time."
Vee rest her head against Matt's chest as she relaxed against him, but not to the point she was going to tip them both off balance. "Then what changed your mind? How did you know you wouldn't go to hell. Wait, wait. Your mates bought you a prostitute? Seriously? Was she at least high class? They could have at least just set you up with a nice lady. She didn't have to be a hooker."
Matt fell silent and his eyes glazed just a little as they fell on the kitchen counter top. "Um... bad experiences in church," he eventually replied, clearing his throat. "Lost faith, all that. I realised it was just a threat to cover things, and yeah, I had my eyes opened, so to speak. I can hardly remember much about her. I was pissed, and I only knew she was a prostitute because she wanted paying before we got into it. Blokes' minds don't think like women. A shag is so much easier than finding a 'nice lady'. That would have taken too much work on their part."
Vee was still getting a niggling feeling in her gut that there was more to it than Matt was saying. She just did not want to push him. If she nudged too hard, then he might close down on her completely. She rubbed her hand against his back softly, staying close to him. "Well, you still could have just shagged a 'nice lady'. Didn't have to be someone that needed paying. But I get it. Boys will be boys. Do you miss your faith at all?"
Matt gave a succinct shake of his head. "Not at all. No faith is ever what we were taught that it is, and unfortunately, Catholicism has avenues of being tainted. It's there in the background and it's what I was brought up as, but no. I don't miss it. I haven't been to confession in a good twenty odd years. But it's still part of what I am, and I have belief in some of it. Just... not all those who preach it and represent it."
Vee nodded in understanding as she pulled away to pick up her coffee again. She took a large sip before pulling herself up onto the kitchen counter, and reaching out to pull Matt between her legs with a smirk. "Not adhering to the lack of birth control is definitely a positive. And I think sex before marriage... also a plus. The medallion you wear though, that's the kind of jewellery that's sexy on naked men. And who needs church, anyway? We do plenty of our own worshipping."
"That was a gift from my godfather. He passed away when I was a kid, but he meant a lot to me. Like I said, it's a big responsibility. If you can find the right formula, you will be in the kid's heart forever, no matter what," Matt told her with a smile. "You apparently need a church to make the lad officially part of your life. It's pretty cool, though not sure how he'll feel being dunked in the water. Have they revealed that bit to him yet?"
Vee wrapped her arms around Matt's shoulders as she leaned forward to kiss him softly, smiling against his lips. "I'm sorry you lost your godfather, but it's nice to know that they can mean something. That they're not just random people you'll never know. Now I'm just scared! Why are you trying to freak me out?! I'll forever be thinking about what the fucking formula is. Oh right, yeah. Which means dressing up and looking suitably godmotherly. No, I don't think so. I'm not sure they've had much of a chance to go over it since the custody was sorted out."
"Some are. It's what you make it to be. I'm sure it's not easy, and you have to make a huge effort with the kid, but that's the whole point. In essence, you're supposed to advise them and be the ones there for them if their parents can't be. Sometimes it's just a name thing, but you can really make it what you want to be. I mean, you're not Euan's sister, so you can't be his real aunt, but this is just the same. It's like picking an aunt," Matt reasoned. "The formula is probably unique to each kid. What Ciaran might need, some other kid probably wouldn't. You just need to take what Euan and Gee want to instill in him and roll with that. I'm not trying to freak you out, I'm trying to help you understand it. That would be an amusing conversation for you to witness. Probably second only to witnessing Euan try to give the sex talk."
"Or Gee give the wank talk," Vee commented with a wicked grin. "I so wish I'd been there for that. I still get a giggle from it whenever I think about it, and how Euan relayed it to me. Does this mean we need to get him, like, hand lotion if he stays here? Are we kiddy friendly? Should we maybe find him some art supplies? That could be the in, I guess. He does love painting, and drawing."
Matt smirked, amused. "Come on. No laddie needs an audience for the wank talk, and no. He probably doesn't need lotion, and it's unlikely he'll do it here if he's only just started. Too much out of his comfort zone. He'll be fine. It's normal. He's proof he's a normal lad under all the crap he's been put through. He's functioning fine. I'd personally rather know he was doing it than start to wonder if he was repressed or not functioning at all. Does he have his own supplies. I don't know. I'm not much of an authority. The lads I know seem happy with some DVDs, video games and kicking a footy about."
"Euan was saying something about not sure if his son was sporty or not, so maybe we could just test it out? Like, you could kick a footy with him. Maybe show me as well since I still don't really get the soccer thing. Football!" Vee corrected loudly. "Football! Football. I didn't mean to call it soccer, I swear. But DVDs we can do. Do you even own a game console? Just out of interest. Is it ancient and collecting dust somewhere?"
Matt shook his head and finished off his coffee. "Nope. I never owned one. I never had time for it. I was more into reading crime novels than playing computer games. We're into winter. It's not exactly footy kicking season. Most of what you entertain him with will have to be inside or Euan will flog you for getting his kid sick. In saying that, kids pick up germs all the time. They get hurt and bruised and cut. You can't freak out every time. Or if you do, just do it internally. Kid's get banged up, plain and simple. Especially lads."
Vee nodded. "Okay, well, I can do this. We can do this. We'll find something for him to do. Do you think he's too young for crime novels? Plus isn't it a bit weird for him to just come over and read books? A bit... antisocial? He can't get germs. Euan will kill me, plus I'm not sure how Ciaran's system will deal with germs. What if he needs to go into hospital? God, my head hurts already. But it's not like he's going to stay here for a long time. Just one day. One evening... Whatever."
"Look, if the lad gets sick on our watch, we'll deal with it. You'll know if he's not well, or he'll tell you. It's all fine, we have a Boots just down the block with remedies at our fingertips. Or get a few of your standard things in to keep on hand if it makes you feel better. I'm not say he has to read books, just that it's what I did. Maybe he'll like comics more. Or get some board games. Board games are always fun. Or bake with him. Or make Christmas decorations with him. There's a load of things you can do," Matt insisted with a smile and an encouraging nod.
"I just don't want him to explode," Vee clarified with a serious look before she cracked a smile and then pulled Matt in so she could wrap her arms and legs around him. "So you sure you're okay with this? Next Thursday? And for the record, you make an awesome godfather-in-law. You have it all going on. I got lucky with you."
Matt laughed. "He's not going to explode on you. It was just one of those things with Euan and me. I haven't been sick since, have I? Has Euan? It's all good. Touch wood," he added, tapping his fingers on the countertop. "Next Thursday's fine, and it's not rocket science. Kid's are just mini adults. We were all there once. We know how to have fun, a lot of us have just forgotten how."
Vee smirked as her eyes lit up and she walked her fingers down Matt's stomach before brushing them over his cock. "I remember how to have a certain kinda fun. Really not the sort that Ciaran should be encouraged in though, I know Euan would kill me for that. And I am touching wood, Irish. So here's to no more exploding. And no, you haven't been sick since. Thank god, but the truth is I think I'm pretty awesome at playing nurse. I like being able to look after you when I can."
"Well, you better make the most of today if you're filling in my day off next week playing Supernanny," Matt pointed out to her, smirking. He knew how much it meant to her to get things right with Euan's son. It was going to be interesting to watch it all play out. "And if he gets sick anytime on our watch, I'll teach you how to be a really awesome nurse with a kid. No different, they just need more hugs and don't have any Man Flu tendencies honed yet. Ciaran will encourage himself there when he's ready. Laddies don't need any encouragement on the sex front. The cock rules everything once the penny drops. You know, if I get ill now, I'm so blaming you for jinxing me."
"Then don't get ill, because the last time I jinxed you, you bloody exploded on me, and it scared the shit out of me," Vee answered as she narrowed her eyes in warning and shot Matt a Look. Her face relaxed a moment later before she pulled Matt into a kiss, intending to grab the green light and run with it given that next week they really would be babysitting. "I like you in one piece, not exploded, and giving me sound advice so that I don't fuck everything up. For that, I will always love you."
Matt sniggered. "Well, I only have one appendix, so I'm pretty sure it's all good now. So, that's me and Euan exploding around you. Only important man left in your life now to tackle is your godson. If he explodes, do you know how much fun we would have pulling the piss?" he teased, unable to help himself. "And didn't they write a song about that once? Do you want me to go all Kevin Costner on you?"
Vee scrunched up her face before smacking Matt's ass. "No, there will be no exploding godsons. No making fun, no jinxing it! Don't say shit like that, okay? Please. Also, for the record, you are way sexier than Kevin Costner, so that would be like taking twenty steps down the hotness ladder. And I am way better than Whitney Houston."
"Well, he's technically already exploded, so maybe that's filled his quota," Matt pointed out with a shrug and then grabbed her hand in his so she couldn't make with more bondage action. "You want spanking, you can go back to Fitzpatrick. I'm more conventional, remember? I'm probably in the minority here, but that song made my nerve-endings want to rupture. Her voice is irritating."
"It wasn't foreplay, it was a smack. Besides which, I'm long done with Euan. You're stuck with me, Devlin," Vee revealed to him with a grin. "That song just makes me want to bash my head against the wall. I've avoided seeing that movie my whole life, and I'm not going to start now. What we have is way better, and way less boredom inducing."
"I had a date drag me to that movie years ago. I was as bored as hell and the plot was full of so many holes, it wasn't funny. The only good movie Costner did was Robin Hood, and I think he should have just stopped his career at that," Matt said, as if he was some sort of all-knowing genius on the subject. Nevermind the fact the movie was a hit. He could be opinionated when he wanted to be. "Sure you don't want to be Fitzpatrick's other woman? Probably a good thing you like Gee. Things could have gone up the shit if you didn't."
Vee shook her head. "Hope you didn't go on another date with that girl. She should be shot for even thinking of it as a date movie. It's just torture. You know, I haven't seen that Robin Hood in years. I used to like Christian Slater before he got weird. I'm more than sure. I'd rather be your first woman, and only woman. Euan wouldn't have cared if I liked Gee, or not. It only matters that he likes her. I can't help but like her."
Matt snorted in amusement. "There were very few girls I've gone on more than a few dates with anyway," he said, shrugging. "You just tend to know the ones that are doomed from the get go. They did a good job of that movie keeping it British, I think that was the plus. You can't beat some classics. I wonder how long they would have taken getting their crap together if the lad hadn't shown up," he mused.
Vee's eyebrows went up before she smirked. "Just as well I never asked you for many dates then, huh? Who knows where we'd be right now. Instead I just keep you in bed until work has to get involved. I like that plan better. Mm, now I'm just thinking about you dressed up as Robin Hood, but you wouldn't be able to go anywhere without your hair gel. No forests for you," she joked as she reached up to ruffle Matt's hair to keep it looking messy. "We'll never really know. But if the tattoo was anything to go by, it was bound to happen eventually."
"Come on, you make me sound like I'm a vain arse," Matt said with a laugh, shaking his head. "You let my hair go free and it literally does whatever the hell it wants. Not a good look when I'm trying to be all professional DS. Nothing like giving a crim a copper with amusing hair to distract from the case. Aye, maybe it was, but I'm not sure I buy that. Fitzpatrick seemed intent on not settling down, and didn't really seem the sort to. Of course, everything really can just change in the blink of an eye. At least it's all official now. Without that, the grandparents really could have come in at any point and tried to take the kid away."
"Except for the fact that the grandparents really were neglecting the poor kid, and he would have become so much sicker staying with them. Imagine if he never got the meds he needed. Never had permission to just be himself, and to be so scared of punishment. Or to never know what a hug feels like." Vee smiled as she smoothed over Matt's hair to try and make it a little neater, before she kissed the end of his nose. "You're not vain. You're the least vain person I know."
Matt closed his eyes briefly and shook his head. If he stuck too long on the issue of child abuse, his mood would be zapped immediately. "He probably wouldn't have survived. As horrible as that sounds, you don't need me to tell you how cases like that can go. We see the bad side of it all. The kids that never have a chance. It's no wonder he's more of a shy introverted kid now, but that's not a bad thing. It probably means that at the end of the day, he'll draw you all in closer to him than push you all away."
Vee nodded slowly as she looped her arms around his neck again. "Hey, I can think of worse kids to draw me in, but I'm still nervous. I still feel like I might not be able to get along with a mini human. I'll also need to work on cutting down the swearing, even if he is Euan's son."
"I'm pretty sure Euan has a bigger job than you on that front. You just have to remember that he's in your care, he needs you, and he's probably more shit scared about it than you are. You need to spend time with him to get to know him. It's not just going to be an immediate connection because Euan wants you as his godmother. You'll be offering him a different life perspective to the godfather too. It'll be good. Gives you something more here in London that's yours," Matt told her with a smile.
"True, true. I mean, I have the PI gig and I am loving it. I have you, I have Euan here now. At least I know he doesn't hate London completely to be trying to settle down. I think it helps having Aoife here as well. He's got half his family, and he's starting a brand new family." Vee smiled back before she shrugged her shoulder slightly. "I think I'm starting to feel more at home here. I can't really deny it."
"I think he still hates it, he just knows it's where he has to be. He doesn't have any love for it anyway. He told me as much at the wedding. He wasn't confident letting the lad be out in the city, but he knows he has to get over it because it'll be his home. London's just one of those places that you either really love or you tolerate. I've been here so long now I can't imagine being anywhere else. Just when it has weather like this, I wish I was living in Hawaii," Matt joked and flicked the kettle on again. May as well have a second cup while they were at it. There was no hurry with anything and he had really deserved this day off.
Word Count | 7,435